Secret-locking box



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Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

G. J. THEUBRNER. SECRET LOCKING BOX.

In 8 d 0 M 0 N UNITED "STAT S PATENT O FICE.

CHRISTOPHER J. 'JHEUEBNER, oF'NEwARK, NEW JERSEY.

SECRET-LOCKING BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,984, dated March 10, 1891. Application filed May 31, 1890. Serial No. 353,825. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, CHRISTOPHER J. THEU- ERNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Secret-Locking Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such .as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to secret locking boxes, and more especially to that class having a concealed or secret drawer.

The invention as modified is applicable to charms, lockets, pendants, or other similar articles of jewelry.

My object is to provide a locking-box having a supplemental or secret drawer which, without close scrutiny on the part of the observer, would indicate an ordinary box and drawer, the secret drawer being difficult of access to any one not acquainted with its concealed locking mechanism.

To this end the invention consists in the general combination and arrangement of the various parts constituting the locking-box and in the means whereby the secret drawer and its locking device are concealed from view, as hereinafter set forth, and finally pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a plan view of the locking-box with the visible drawer drawn out to its full limit. Fig. 1 is a plan View with the visible drawer drawn out to its full limit and the secret drawer partially drawn out. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of Fig. 1, taken on the line .2. Fig. 2 is'a sectional view of Fig. 1, taken on the line 5r. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the visible and secret drawers detached from the outside box. Fig. at is a rear end view of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front view of the outside box with the drawers removed therefrom, showing the locking mechanism inside and at the rear end of the said outside box: Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the outside box. Fig. 7 isa longitudinal sectional view of the outside box as modified, showing a ring pendant connected with the locking mechanism. Fig.8 is a rear end view of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 the same view with the ring pendant removed.

In said drawings, A designates the outside thereby preventing the said drawer from being entirely withdrawn.

The secret drawer C is adapted to fit friction-tight in the visible drawer B, which is provided with inwardly-projecting flanges b on its upper edges and extending its entire length, under which the upper edges of the secret drawer 0 work. The said secret drawer C is provided at its rear end with two stop lugs or guards c, which strike the end plate D when the drawer is closed, and thus prevent dislocation of or injury to the locking mechanism, otherwise liable to take place by the parts being forced too tightly together. It is further provided with a bevel-faced latch or hook (Z, which engages with a corresponding hook on the end plate D, as will hereinafter be seen.

The end plate D is provided near its center and on its interior side with a transverse bar 6, having a bevel-faced hook f, and also with two lugs g, all of which are integral with said plate. This plate is held in place by and travels upon two small rods h, extending through the lugs g and the extremities of the cross-bar c, said rods h reaching from side to side in the interior and at the rear end of the outside box A, being secured to the latter by lugs i in each corner thereof. On each rod h are coiled springs j, adapted to maintain the hook f in looking relation with the corresponding hook (Z on the rear end of the secret drawer c, with which it engages and forms the locking-connection between the end plate D and the said drawer O. The mode of operating is as follows: The locking-box being in its normal or locked position, the drawer .B may be freely drawn out or in at pleasure. To open the secret drawer, however, it is necessary to disengage the locking mechanism by retraction or lateral pressure upon the end plateD applied from the outside and with both drawers closed. The drawer B is then withdrawn andcarries with it the secret drawer O by means of the frictional relation between the said two drawers, as heretofore noted. In closing the drawer B, the secret drawer C is carried inward with it and is locked automatically to the end plate D by means of the hook cl, engaging with the corresponding spring-actuated hook fon the interior side of the said plate.

In the modification of the locking-box,adapting it to be used as a locket, charm, or similar article of jewelr instead of the end plate D being the actuating-point, whereby the looking mechanism is disengaged, a ring pendant 7c is substituted for the said plate. This plate, which we will now designate as E, is integral with the outside box A, and is provided with a small longitudinal perforation or slot on. The ring pendant 75, provided with a flat base-plate Z, which conceals the slot on, has a shank extending through the said slot and firmly secured to the cross-bar e, in this case detached from the end E. The connection being thus formed between the ring pendant and the locking mechanism, the locket or charm is now operated, in the same manner as the locking-box described above, by retraction of the ring pendant.

Having described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The improved locking-box, consisting of the outside box A, provided with the rods h, secured in the inside and at the rear end thereof, the drawer B, telescoping in the said box A, the secret drawer C, fitting friction-tight in the drawer B and provided at its inner end with the stop-lugs c and the hook'cl, the end plate D, covering the rear end of the box A and provided with the lugs g, and the springactuated'cross-bar 6, having the hook f there-" on, the said plate D being held in place by and traveling upon the rods h and adapted to engage automatically in looking relation with the drawerC and to be disengaged therefrom by retraction of the plate D, all combined and arranged substantially as set forth and described. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of May, 1890.

CHRISTOPHER J. THEUERNER. Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, OSCAR A. MICHEL. 

